Day 327

They say when you quit one bad habit, you pick up another one.  I should have been more careful but unfortunately this next one crept up on me.  Now I’m caught up in a dilemma. 

My last cigarette was at LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal on May 31st, 2005.  Just as I entered the terminal, I took my last drag and entered into a new world free from cigarettes.  A pack a day for the last 15 years, I had tortured my lungs and I was about to torture them one last time by going through a period of withdrawal. 

But just as I had envisioned, because living in Korea would be so new to me, the distraction of seeing and learning new things has kept my mind off the smokes.  Even having most of this country’s people smoke in front of you didn’t really bother me. Actually its usually when I’m alone when I crave it the most.  Believe it or not, it was prayer that got me through those tough times.

So who would have thunk junk food would have been my replacement for cigarettes.  I tell you I was NEVER a junk food person.  I was always a meat and potatoes kinda guy who never saved room for dessert.  In America, you’d never find me munching on a Snickers bar.  Never would you find me buying a bag of chips at the gas station or sipping on a caramel machiatto at Starbucks. 

But here in Korea, I’ll tell you this.  We has some of the best damn confectionaries in the whole entire world.  The list is enough to go into a whole new entry, but we’ll save that for another day.  Here, hands down they have the tastiest snacks, the most creative adventurous cakes and the widest variety of single packaged ice cream bars.  There’s just no comparison.  I can’t help but to help myself to these delicious treats but everyday.  And after that you can’t just have one.  Blast you!  I’ve been cursed with this addictive personality.  Yet, treats like these are so innocent compared to the nastiness you find in cigarettes, right? Yet again, they do call it blissful sin, don’t they?  I’ll probably come back to the States heavier than I left there with.  That would be sad.  Especially when Korean food overall is better for you in the first place.  Or what if i stop sweets only to find myselft smoking crack now?  Going from Home Run balls to hitting smack?  Maybe smoking again wouldn’t be such a bad idea.  Oh boy…now I’m rationalizing. 

Immediately after this post, I will check myself into a treatment center for the next 30 days to once and for all break the hold that this highly addictive sweet tooth has on me. 

Actually check that…after another slice of this sweet delicious sweet potato pie.